Earlier on Thursday, Ms Ortega said she had appointed two prosecutors to investigate four out of the five directors of the National Electoral Council (CNE) "for this very scandalous act that could generate more violence in the country than what we have already experienced".

Critics of the council say it is filled with government loyalists who do the president's bidding.

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President Nicolas Maduro has been widely criticised over the new assembly

However, it is unclear how far the investigation will proceed.

Ms Ortega has made previous attempts to challenge executive decisions but they have been blocked.

President Maduro insists the new assembly is needed to restore order to the country after months of political and economic crisis.